Koos Marais of the KZN Agricultural Union’s (Kwanalu) Security Desk said there were no indications that Mbanjwa had been robbed by his killers. “The fact that he was shot in the back of the head shows that the [killing] was very calculated. Should this be a typical farm murder then it would be great cause for concern,” Marais told Farmer’s Weekly.
Marais reiterated that Kwanalu had long been saying that farmers were considered as soft targets by criminals. Criminals also often perceived farmers as being in possession of cash and firearms.
“Farmers must be vigilant at all times, and we again call on the police to increase visible policing in rural areas,” said Marais.
In a statement issued by his department, KZN MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Cyril Xaba expressed outrage at the news of the fourth murder to have taken place on a KZN farm since 1 January this year.
“I urge the people of our province not to forget that agriculture is the lifeblood of our country and without it food security is non-existent,” Xaba said in the statement.
Kwanalu’s Security Desk said that there had been 27 farm attacks in KZN since the beginning of this year.
